Sin tax on cannabis disproportionately hurts medical users

Canada’s expanding cannabis industry is expectantly awaiting July 1, 2018, when prohibition will end and cannabis will be regulated for adult use in Canada. The excitement around ending prohibition has been dampened by an inevitable reality: taxation.

With the introduction of adult use regulations, cannabis will become a uniquely regulated product in Canada. There is no other psychoactive product sold both for medical purposes on the authorization of a health care provider, and alternatively to adults for reasons they are free to choose. The dual markets...